School insists that lesbian student wear a dress for yearbook picture
School Officials Ban Photo Of Female Student Wearing Tuxedo
Decision To Bar Picture Of Student In Tuxedo Stands
Mother To Appeal Senior Picture Decision
Principal Sam Ward of Fleming Island High School in the Clay County School District decided that Kelli Davis’s yearbook picture would not be permitted. The openly lesbian student wore a tuxedo for the photo instead of the approved female drape. Keri Sewell, a senior and student editor for the yearbook, was fired for objecting to the removal of the picture.
The county school board and its superintendent backed the decision, which was debated at a Thursday night School Board meeting attended by about 200 people.
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School officials have maintained that sexual preference is not the issue, it is gender. They said since Davis did not follow the rules on dress, she will not be in the yearbook.Bruce Bickner, an attorney representing the School Board, said there is no written dress code for senior pictures, but also said the district gives principals the authority to set standards.
Kelli’s picture will still appear in the yearbook. Her mother bought a two page spread in the book for around $1000 and the tuxedo photo will appear there.
(Tip credit to Huebner and Delusional Duck)
I think this teen made a positive comment regarding her self-image and gender decisions that should be supported. I doubt it is the first time she has dressed in male clothing and I suspect she would not be comfortable in a dress. The principal should have been prepared for this. I think this is so much better than having special schools that are sensitive to gay issues like NYC. It’s not a big deal.
As much as I’m against the homosexual lifestyle being promoted in schools, I think the school officials are wrong in this case. She should be free to wear what she wants.
In an early article on this case (which I cannot find right now - could be expired), Kelli stated that she chose not to wear the drape, because it was too immodest. Apparently, some of the girls using the drape were exposing a great deal of cleavage.
So, essentially, she was barred from the yearbook because she wouldn’t “tart up.”
Beautiful. As a founding member of the
“intolerant, hateful” vast right wing conspiracy, I would like to see her sue
this school back to the stone age. Her
lifestyle choices are not the issue here;
her right to choose how to dress is. Maybe
she should counter with a demand that all the
female administrators show up for work in
hoopskirts and corsets, al a Scarlet O’Hara.
It may have cost a thousand dollars, but her mother had the last laugh. I aplluad the student editor for having the courage to take stand.
Slaves to Route
This isn’t really a story about sexuality, identity, or any of those PC watchwords when it comes to lesbians….it’s a story about mindless adherence to rules.
Principal Sam Ward of Fleming Island High School in the Clay County School District de…
“Maybe she should counter with a demand that all the female administrators show up for work in hoopskirts and corsets, al a Scarlet O’Hara.” - dweeb
Heck yeah! They wouldn’t be able to get in the doors then!
I attended the same school district, although it was over twenty years ago. We had students back then we did not adhere to the written instructions (boys were this and gears wear that, comb your hair, no loud make-up, etc.) and were subsequently denied having their picture in the yearbook. To me, the school district did the correct thing by upholding standards that have been in place for a very long time. I agree that her personal sexuality was not in question.
im that editor, (kari) and i thank u for the support
I just looked back at the comment that I had posted. God, where was my spell checker that day?
This was a travesty. The young lady’s mom had the last laugh. From a legal standpoint in this state what is the Florida State Law on this issue in regards to students presenting their photos of choice to the yearbook staff and having that photo put in the yearbook even though the school’s contract photographer didn’t take it? Schools have enough control already.
Her photo should have went in the book like the others but thank god mom had it go in anyway.
Hmm…well, frankly, if she wants to dress like a guy, there’s nothing wrong with that. I have a friend who wore a tie for her senior photo. She is not a lesbian, and it was not a traditional suit-and-tie—it was pretty feminine looking. The school let her wear it.